What's New?
This site uses terms that appear in historical records. No offence is intended.
25 Nov 2023
- I added another 77 names to the Insanity and Unsound Mind index. There are now more than 21,000 names from 60 series of historical records with information about people in asylums plus others who were thought to have mental health problems. The date range is 1860 to 1980, and the index is mostly for Queensland, though there are entries for a few people in other States.
- Several new offers are listed on Genealogy Discounts and Freebies. For a very short time, my genealogy mini-guides are half price, and there are discounts at Findmypast and Ancestry.
12 Nov 2023
- If you're trying to identify a biological father who is not mentioned on a child's birth certificate, check the 'Illegitimate Index' again, because I've added more names from various Court and police records that name the putative father. The index has entries for various dates between 1858 and 1964, and includes women and children from all over Australia, plus a few who were overseas. At least 60% of the entries are for women in Queensland. There are now over 4,300 names from 31 separate record series. NOTE: It's likely that the Interim Index (see below) also has entries for mothers of illegitimate children whose father is named in historical records; but for various reasons I didn't include them in the Illegitimate Index.
- I've added more names to the 'Interim Index'. This 'miscellaneous' index, which includes men, women and children, is compiled from a wide variety of records - some of which are overlooked by family historians. If you're researching women and girls who were in Queensland, be sure to check this list for both maiden and married surnames. Recent additions include many women who were here in the 1870s-1880s.
19 Sep 2023
Last night I uploaded webpages to which I've added a total of 462 names from historical records that I indexed.
- Twice this month I added more names to the Neglected Children index, which includes a few orphans for whom I've found information in unexpected sources (not actual orphanage records). The term 'neglected' is somewhat misleading, as there are entries for children whom you wouldn't expect to be described in that way.
- In June I updated my Queensland Genealogy and Archives Research Tips.
- For many of the 70,000 names on my website, there's a new service that makes it easier for you to check whether the document that I indexed could be for the person you're researching (rather than someone else with the same name). This service currently costs between $2 and $8 (but that's subject to change). On the page for each index, under 'Research / Copying Service' or similar, the new service (if it's available) will have a heading in bold RED font. If that doesn't appear below the list of names that interests you, check again later this year. See 'My indexes to original historical records'.
- In May I added more names to my online family tree.
- I updated the page with my privacy, cookie and links policies, copyright advice, and a disclaimer and disclosure.
- I have stopped using Twitter. If you use Facebook and want to see my posts about family history, you need to Like/Follow my Judy Webster Genealogy page (not my personal profile).
February 2023
- New page about Brisbane Hospital patients, with an explanation of some superb pre-1923 records, a combined list of patients' names, and a new way to get information or copies.
- I added 130 names to the Missing Friends lists - and there's a new (cheaper) option if you're interested in a name on the list.
January 2023
June - Dec 2022
Pages to which I've recently made changes:
23 May 2022
- When you contact me at either of my business email addresses, you'll receive an immediate automated acknowledgement, and later a personal response. It is your responsibility to add BOTH addresses to your Contacts and to your Whitelists, Safe Senders lists, etc, and to regularly check spam/junk/trash folders, 'promotions' and other tabs.
- WARNING! (1) If you contact me from a Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Outlook, Live or MSN address (where my reply often goes into a 'black hole'), you *must* also give me an alternative email address so that I can reply to both addresses; and you must check spam etc as explained above. If you ask me to re-send my emails, you will be billed for the extra time involved. (2) If Gmail adds an alert to my emails (eg, 'could not verify...' that it was actually sent by me), ignore it.
4 Dec 2021
- NOTE! I usually supply copies of documents as digital images that you can download via Dropbox (which you can also use as an offsite backup). I email you the download link and instructions. One month later, the link expires and files are deleted, unless you've previously requested extra time.
23 Nov 2021
- Use it or lose it! Some of my copying services will probably be available only until the end of this month (November 2021). Others will continue, but prices may increase. Now is the time to thoroughly check the 70,000 names from historical records, and order copies of any original documents that interest you (as explained at the end of each list of names).
- I recently spent several days editing the source code for this Web site. The changes should make the pages more mobile-friendly. If there's a page that doesn't work well on a mobile device, please tell me the URL and what the problem is. I've also changed the header on most pages to include (above the logo) a link to a page that I use and recommend. Some of those links open in a new window, and some send you away from my site.
January to June 2021
- My Web site includes names of over 1,800 patients for whom I can supply copies of Goodna Asylum case books (with medical and biographical information). You may previously have been told that they were unavailable even via Right to Information. You must search the names (that link opens a new window), and then follow the 'Checking, Research and Copying Services' instructions.
- Queensland Colonial Secretary's Office in-letters, 1860s / 1870s, re Benevolent Asylum patients and others: I've reduced the fees for source references and for copies of original documents.
- People Arrested and Victims of Crime at Charters Towers: I've reduced the fee for copies of original documents. Note that the index (with names and source references) is available in PDF format.
- South-West Queensland: Miscellaneous Sources Index: I've reduced the fee for consulting my index and sending you a brief description of the record series (date range and likely contents), the name of the repository (in case you want to do the work yourself), and a no-obligation quote for a digital copy of the original record.
- See the example and advice on Don't Waste Money on Irrelevant Documents!
- Recent unfortunate events have forced me to make changes to 'Copying, Research and Other Genealogy Services'.
- I wrote this with steam coming out of my ears, so please read it and avoid these mistakes: 'Tips on Sending an Email to Multiple People'.
- I suggest that you check Genealogy Discounts and Freebies frequently (preferably between Friday and Monday), because some offers are only listed for a day or two.
- On this site, note the 'Other suggestions' section that's near the end of most pages with names. See also my site search tips.
Nov 2020
- Last month I made significant changes to 40 of my Favourite Genealogy Indexes / Sources (I removed some suggestions and links, and added new ones).
- My Web site now has names from two admission registers for Roma Hospital. Some places of residence, as shown in the registers, were hundreds of kilometres away. Many patients were children. Birthplace statistics are also interesting. About 31% of patients were born overseas and 18% were born in a State other than Queensland.
- (This is one of the most significant changes that I've ever made.) Today I added new, cheaper options (starting at $5) for obtaining information from my Insanity and Unsound Mind index.
- The new options mentioned above are available for a trial period. If they prove popular (and don't make my life a misery as I wind down towards retirement), I may introduce something similar for other indexes.
- In an attempt to make things easier for my customers, I've changed the Web page about my genealogy mini-guides.
Sept 2020
Even without Covid-19, recent months have seen considerable upheaval in my life - but I've made a few additions and updates to my Website:
June 2020
- Added more names to Photos and Sketches of People. The images (found in various archival record series) are accompanied by biographical or historical details. Birth places of those people include the UK, Ireland, western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Italy, South Africa, Czechoslovakia etc.
May 2020
- Added more names to the Missing Friends page. The original records have superb details for family history.
Aug 2019
- Some of my indexes are now available as e-books (PDF format; $3 each):
- Index to Eventide (Sandgate, Qld) Registers of Deaths 1954-1959
- Index to Persons Arrested and Victims of Crime, Qld: Charters Towers pre-1900
- Index to Persons Arrested and Victims of Crime, Qld: Cloncurry pre-1900
Nov 2018
- I've completed my 'in progress' indexes for mental asylum patients, and I've also indexed several additional sources. One source that I'd previously overlooked has (for about 1,000 people) details of the circumstances leading up to admission to a mental asylum (information that is often difficult to find). All of my existing 'insanity' indexes, plus 10,000 new entries, have been combined to create one huge index. The list is on my Web site as Insanity and Unsound Mind. Please read my explanatory notes very carefully. You may also be interested in the reasons for this change.
Jan 2018
- Muttaburra Hospital admission registers: added patients' names from late 1928 and early 1929 (which are not in the index that I published in book form).
- Files about repayment of fares: added several names. Many applicants were travelling from one Australian State to another, but some were going to or from New Zealand, Canada, Britain, India etc. If you're researching someone who 'disappeared', these files may provide the clue you need.
Oct 2017
- Prison records: more names added, and 2 links added to 'Other Suggestions' near the end of the page.
Aug 2017
July 2017
Jan 2017
June 2016
Dec 2015
- More names added from my index to headstones on graves in Eulo cemetery.
Nov 2015
Apr 2015
Sep 2014
- There has been a huge amount of interest in my latest article, 'Use FreeBMD postems to find new relatives'. It describes a simple strategy that has worked for me, so if any of your relatives were born, married or died in England or Wales from 1837 onwards, it may work for you too.
Feb 2014
July 2013
June 2013
- My 'Queensland Genealogy' blog now has a section (in the sidebar) called 'Categories' (BDMs, Hidden treasures, Indexes, People (names), Places, Sources, Tips, Warnings, Websites). Click a category to see a page with all posts on that topic. See also the complete list of keywords at the bottom of that page.
Other Suggestions
My other genealogy sites have additional advice and names.
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